Tuesday, July 20, 2010

We’re off! And camped for the night, our plan is to take the ferry from Hirtshals to Kristiansand tomorrow.

Dad and Juliette came by to see us off. Looking at Buster, Dad commented gregariously, “My God, it’s the Joads. Perplexed looks passed over the faces of Juliette and Anne Marie, so I proceeded to offer a lesson in cross-cultural literacy that was then followed by the very specific eye roll that the French save other’s expressions of their cultural touch points. They are so superior…right.

Buster does look like one of those transport trucks you see in the Sahara, sans the passengers on the roof. With the two surf boards strapped to the roof, down from the four that we considered bringing, the duffle bags with our wetsuits also up there, plus bug netting and enclosure panels that attach to the awning. We brought only one of Buster’s two spare tires and none of the extra fuel cans, just an empty water can. Oh and two bicycles. Inside, in addition to the closets and cabinets that come with the camper package, there is a pair of aluminum boxes strapped to the floor in front of the folding bed and two more behind it, oh and a guitar hanging from the underside of the upper bunk.

With Wags and Buffy (AM’s Bichon-cross) in their harnesses we set off. AM took the first driving shift so I could call Mimi and speak with her about something. Mimi of course answered the phone “Hello Mother, I thought you were on vacation?” Travel by Buster is leisurely with about 90KPH being a comfortable pace, just don’t plan on making up for lost time.

Around 10 we stopped to let the dogs out and to switch drivers. We no sooner got started again, when my phone rang, “Sorry, I know you’re on vacation, but…” I pulled over and AM took the helm again. My phone rang three more times and when we stopped for the day, she joked if this continues she’s going to throw herself off a cliff into a fjord, to which I replied that this was an idle threat as she was afraid of heights. She’s never been to the top of the Eiffel Tower.